Seeking Advice on a .22 cal PCP

I am looking to get a new .22 cal high end pcp air rifle. Unfortunately , there are no good airgun shops in my near vicinity that would allow me the chance to handle/ shoot any of the rifles that I am considering. The rifle will be used for small game hunting and target shooting. I want to stick with heavy pellets and would love to try shooting slugs. Based on my research, I have it narrowed to a few choices:

-Airmaks Katran B

-FX Dreamline in one of its various configurations

-Kalibrgun Argus 60

-Kalibrgun Cricket2 Tactical

For those of you that have experience with any of these rifles, can you tell me why you would choose one over the other? Are any of these more robustly built or more reliable? Is customer service much better in one company vs another? Are some easier to adjust for spring tension? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Lou
 
I have ownership experience with all of the guns you have listed, and the pros & cons could probably run 10 pages of text. So I'll just try to put out some random thoughts which I hope will help.

The Kalibrguns are of the most robust construction of any on your list. Unfortunately that robust construction leads to the heaviest weights. Not as good in the field, but actually helps accuracy off the bench. Without looking up the numbers, the Argus 60 feels lighter in my hands as compared to the C2 Tact with a similar length barrel. In fact, to me the C2 Tact 60 felt a little too heavy for walking around with, or maybe not optimally balanced. I currently have a C2 Tact 45 and I overall like the handling of that gun better. But it might not be the better suited gun for heavy pellets and slugs at higher velocity. So of those 2 I like the feeling of the Argus if you want/need the longer barreled configuration to achieve higher power levels. Very different magazines with these guns. The Argus magazine is likely easier to use as someone's brand new gun right out of the box. Especially the way that the loaded mag easily slots into the breech. The Cricket magazines seem very fiddly at first, placing a loaded mag into the gun's breech. But in time muscle memory kicks in and you get used to it. I prefer loading pellets into the Cricket magazines. Overall I prefer the Cricket magazines. I don't much care for the lever 'feature' on the Argus magazines which locks the mag and doesn't feed the subsequent pellets. I've accidentally engaged that before. Never done so with the different lever on the Crickets.

The AirMaks Katran is an interesting and unusual gun to me. They are well designed and built, are going to be lighter in weight as compared to the Kalibrguns, and have nice triggers, power and accuracy. I think that they are well robust enough for field use, although not quite as robust as the heavier Kalibrs. They are NOT known for their efficient air use. And while they are inherently accurate for bench work, they have been designed for the light weight, minimalist approach to airguns. As such I was never able to get as comfortable/stable on the bench with them to maximize their accuracy potential. Good magazines and in the few interactions I've had with the company they seem to be very responsive.

FX Dreamline is likely the least robust of the guns you mention, but I wouldn't call that fragile. Depending on the gun, it will likely be similar in weight to the Katran, or perhaps just a little heavier. But not heavy. Balance and feel is very good, and all but the 'Lite' models can be good and stable on the bench. To me the Lite model's butt is flimsy to the point of useless. So you either pay the extra money and buy the Tact model right away, or pay even more money and convert your Lite to a Tact. The Dreamlines are likely the easiest of the bunch for deep tuning, since the reg is so easily changed along with the hammer spring pre-tension. And as long as you maintain a minimum barrel length (500mm for a .22), they will make good power, especially with the power plenums currently coming standard from the factory. Get into the compact models and their ability to make good power diminishes quickly.

If I had to pick a favorite from the guns you've specified, and for the uses you specify, it would be a difficult decision. But for me it would likely be the Argus. I could walk & stalk with it, it makes good power and is relatively easily tunable (hammer spring) within a range, and it works well off the bench giving you the ability to get nice and stable. And it is built like a tank.

EDIT: I didn't really want to do this, as many other responders likely will. But maybe look at adding an AGT Uragan Standard to your list...
 
I know a little about the Argus and the Cricket II. I also have an RTI Prophet Compact as noted in another post. All in .22. I have no experience with your other two choices.

All three are great choices, you can't go wrong with these three. I might add in the new FX Wildcat III (or the Wildcat III BT). It's actually a very good combination of all three !

The Argus and the Cricket are a little on the heavier side as compared to many other guns, especially the RTI Prophet Compact. All three are great shooters out to 100yrds, and possibly farther. The Wildcat is on the lighter side, much like the Prophet Compact. There is a compact version of the Wildcat also.

My choices, in order - The RTI Prophet Compact, (the Wildcat III), the Argus and the Cricket.

The Argus and the Cricket are solidly built. Should last a ling time. The RTI is also solidly built but in a fall off of a moving pickup, it may not survive as well as the other two. Otherwise, all three should live a good long time.

My Argus, with a modified stock -

Kalibrgun Argus 45, .22.1649128314.JPG


Mike